Dear Lurgio Families,
I hope you and your students are adjusting to the new routines that this school year brings. Our staff and students seem to be adapting well to a new schedule and protocols, and I continue to be impressed by everyone’s dedication in helping to keep each other safe and healthy.
As a reminder, there is no school on Monday (Labor Day) and Tuesday (NH Primary Election Day). While the long weekend may be a much needed break for all of us, it is important that we stay diligent when it comes to social distancing and travel. Middle schoolers can be very social. Parents, please continue to have your students avoid social gatherings where they cannot properly socially distance. The effectiveness of our mitigation measures here at school are amplified when students, teachers, and families self-enforce social distancing and practice the recommended “safer at home” measures as much as possible. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, please see our “Parent Resources” section below for links to our important reference documents. We will continue to update these if anything changes.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Best,
Ed Joyce
Parent Resources
K-8 Hybrid Calendar Daily Health Screening for Students
RAL Hybrid Parent Guide Quarantine Protocols/Flowchart
RAL Remote Parent Guide RAL Welcome & Orientation Video
Bedford Reopening Plan COVID-19 Schools Dashboard
Important Dates
COVID-19 Travel Guidelines
On this long weekend, please be advised of the current guidance from the State of NH regarding travel. The CDC has guidance for people traveling within the United States. Because travel increases a person’s chance of getting COVID-19 through close contact with others or contaminated public surfaces, anybody traveling should continue to avoid large gatherings and public areas, keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others, wear a cloth face covering when in public areas, and frequently sanitize their hands. NH residents or out-of-state visitors traveling to/from areas outside of New England (Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island) need to self-quarantine for the first 14 days of any intended stay in NH after travel (starting from the last day of their travel outside New England). This recommendation is irrespective of the mode of transportation for travel (public vs. private transportation).
Also, students cannot test out of quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test. They must complete the entire 14 days. Please take a look at our Quarantining Protocol/Flowchart for more information.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, it is essential that we adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in our Hybrid plan.
Outdoor Learning Spaces
We are excited to announce that we are getting ready to set up tents on Wednesday, September 9th at 3:30PM. To get these built for students, we need volunteers to help us with assembly. Please reach out to Mr. Paciulli (paciullia@sau25.net) if you are available to help and have not yet contacted us. We have heard from a few volunteers, but we would like to have more.
BSD Food Service Announcement:
Food Service has received a formal waiver from the USDA to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all children ages 2-18 in the community through December 31, 2020. Meals will be offered at each school when students are on site and at the drive through pick-up located at the high school gym entrance for distance & remote learning students. Please continue to pre-order lunch through: https://www.sendmoneytoschool.
Masks & Social Distancing
Over the past two days, we have been so impressed by the students' adherence to our mask wearing protocol. They were absolutely fantastic. Thank you for your support of mask wearing at all times when in the building. This is especially important when social distancing is more difficult to achieve. Students are permitted to take mask breaks while eating lunch and at other times designated by their pod teachers.
An area of transmission mitigation that still needs some more work is social distancing. When inside and wearing a mask we are asking students to continue to do their best to maintain social distancing protocols. While this is not always possible, and our students have been doing well, we think that we can improve. Further, we need to remind students that even when we are outside, it is important to wear a mask when less than six feet from another person.
COVID-19 Positive Test Protocols
Please see the following information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Department of Education regarding procedures that take place if a member of our school community tests positive for COVID-19.
Band and Chorus Information
Band and chorus will be fully remote until further notice.
All students who wish to be involved in band and/or chorus this year should join the appropriate classroom so they have all of the up to date information.
Band Google Classroom Join Code: frxiieo
Chorus Google Classroom Join Code: dxp7pze
Virtual rehearsals will start next week. We are also in the process of creating the rehearsal schedule for the year. Students and parents will be notified of the schedule as soon as it is finalized.
Health Office News
Welcome back Lurgio students and families! We're looking forward to seeing everyone!! As a reminder, incoming 7th graders need to have a documented TDap vaccine prior to the start of the school year. Please submit a physical as well.
If your child requires daily prescription medication, please contact the nurse directly to arrange an appointment for drop off. Health forms can be found at the district website under health services. Please feel free to contact the nurse with any questions or concerns: Evelyn Chessie and Karen Freedman (603) 310-9100 ext. 34415
Athletics Corner
Signups for fall sports are OPEN. See this POST for more information about the format of our fall sports season, as well as registration and start dates. Contact Kristen Gauthier at gauthierk@sau25.net with any questions regarding athletics.
Hybrid Instruction Corner
Hybrid Schedule Calendar
We know that the new hybrid schedule can be confusing at times. In general, students with last names A-K come to school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternating Fridays. Students with last names L-Z come to school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternating Fridays. Here is a handy color-coded district calendar for kindergarten through grade 8 to help your family plan in advance.
Distance Learning Days
On Distance Learning Days, hybrid students should be engaged in different types of work assigned by their teachers on their in-person days. Students are not expected to sit in front of a computer screen for 6.5 hours, but they will be expected to complete tasks to create a bridge between their in-person days. Google Classroom is a resource for students to check assignments and tasks when they are working independently. Teachers are not immediately available to answer questions or work synchronously with students because they are instructing students in person every day. Teachers will answer questions via email if and when they are available.
Remote Instruction Corner
Remote Integrated Arts and World Language courses started this week.
Guidance Corner
It was so nice to see the hybrid students in school and the remote students during the remote principal’s message. We have been contacted by many families looking for helpful strategies to manage teenage stress. We want to share this brief article titled “17 Small, but Significant, Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Worrying”. We love supporting your kids as they challenge themselves academically, while learning to set boundaries and develop healthy coping skills for life’s stressors.
Kitchen News
Please see the Food Service Plan for more information about breakfast and lunch service for the coming school year. Contact Emily Murphy, Director of School Nutrition, with any questions you may have.
Tech Corner
At this point, all students are up and running with their chromebooks. Please remember that if students have technical issues, they should submit a ticket by visiting: http://bit.ly/BSDTechHelpForm.
A couple of other friendly tech reminders:
Students should bring their charged chromebook EVERY day to school.
Students should be checking their email on a regular basis as this is our main form of communication with them.
Book Buzz
This week, our Literacy Team recommends Clan by Sigmund Brouwer:
PTG Corner
Back to School Greetings from the PTG
As we embark on a very unique school year, the PTG is dedicated to embracing its challenges while continuing to cherish and celebrate past traditions. Let's make it another great year for our students, staff and families!
Support the PTG
Although our funding for programming and enrichment opportunities may look different this year, we will be working directly with the district to focus on what the classroom, teacher/staff, student and school needs are based on the current environment.
We know these may be trying economic times for many people so we ask if you are interested and able, please support the PTG by making a donation via PayPal by clicking HERE or by checks made out to Bedford PTG (turn into your child’s school or mail to PO Box 10077 Bedford, NH). Through our Support Drive, 100% of your donation goes directly to the schools and students of Bedford.
Looking to Volunteer?
We will have information about volunteering for Bedford Schools in the upcoming weeks. Links to a Volunteer Google Form for each school will be available at that time. You will need to fill this form out in order to hear about volunteer opportunities at the schools or district wide. Currently, some schools are looking to fill open school coordinator level roles.
PTG Volunteer Opportunities
We have many open volunteer positions this year! Specific to Lurgio is, Volunteer Coordinator, Hospitality Coordinator and PTG Support Coordinator. These will be from home, primarily remote roles this year. Please reach out to Chelsea Donahue at cdonahue0407@gmail.com if you are interested!
Community Conversation with Superintendent Fournier
Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you for a “Community Conversation” on Friday, September 11th, 9:30 a.m. at the SAU Building. This will be a small, informal gathering to discuss Bedford School District happenings. Questions and comments are encouraged. You must RSVP to attend. Seating is limited (adhering to social distancing guidelines) and masks are required. Click HERE to sign up.
Meet the Principals Event September 25, 2020
You are invited to watch the Principals from all six schools at our annual "Meet the Principals" event on Friday, September 25th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. It will be broadcast live on BCTV. This is a great opportunity to hear what each school has in store for the year. Please email questions before Sept. 23 for the Q&A session that follows the presentation to bedfordnhptg@gmail.com.
